The Brontë Parsonage Museum was recently awarded £50000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to support an exciting programme of developments that will take place at the museum in January 2010. This blog is a forum for people in and around Haworth to keep up to date with the project, and make comments and suggestions

Thursday, 24 September 2009

The Brontë Parsonage Museum is interested in speaking to anyone who thinks they may own household artefacts, books, drawings or letters that they believe to have belonged to the Brontë family or that have connections with the Brontës or historic Haworth

Throughout October the Brontë Parsonage Museum will be offering free, expert advice on such material to people living in and around Haworth. In addition to finding out what important Brontë or Brontë-related items might still be in private hands, the museum is also keen to encourage local people to use the museum’s resources to find out more about items in their possession and have the opportunity to benefit from conservation advice.

This unusual move comes as part of a programme of community events currently taking place following a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to the museum. The grant will also support new developments to the historic rooms of the Parsonage in January 2010, including new displays focusing on the Haworth community in which the Brontës lived. Further information on this project is available at www.theheartofhaworth.blogspot.com

It is well known that various pieces of ‘Bronteana’ passed into the hands of local families following an auction of Brontë household items which took place in Haworth after Patrick Brontë’s death in 1861. Obviously we’re keen to know what if anything is still out there, but also to offer information and advice to anyone who is lucky enough to own items connected with the Brontës or Haworth in the Brontës’ time.

Andrew McCarthyDirector, Brontë Parsonage Museum

Anyone wanting to know more about items they own or take advice on conservation can contact the museum anytime in October. All enquiries will be dealt with strictly confidentially. In the first instance, contact Ann Dinsdale, Collections Manager, Brontë Parsonage Museum - mailto:ann.dinsdale@bronte.org.uk 01535 640198 www.bronte.info

Thursday, 17 September 2009

The first of three special evening events for local residents took place on Tuesday 15 September (there were meant to be two but the museum had to organize an extra evening to allow more people to join in!) Thirty-one guests attended and enjoyed a guided tour of the musuem, including the Library which is not normally accessible to visitors. All of the guests were Haworth residents. They discussed with musuem staff plans for 2010 when new displays will reflect the history of Haworth as well as the Bronte story. There were lots of good ideas and positive comments made - all of which will be taken into account as the museum makes plans for changes to be made in January 2010.

Here are some of those comments and ideas - thanks to all who participated:

"I think it's a good idea to incorporate more of Patrick Bronte and the servants"- Mrs D Emnott

"Putting the family in the context of the local community of the time is a good idea"

"Have you thought about(or have you done) re-enactments i.e. actors moving around the museum in costume etc?"- Michael Greenwood

"In the room where the Brontes wrote, maybe have someone reading extracts from the novels, in costume, or some sort of mechanical recording (not as good) and in display room a screen with views of the moors/wind/bird sounds and Bronte poetry being read? I enjoyed learning more about the portraits of local people"- Carole Anne Crossland

"Why not produce a street map showing where people who worked for the Brontes lived?" - Quintin Crossland

"Having lived in the village for 30 years I thought this was an ideal opportunity to undo my serious omission! I liked the connection between the Brontes and their village and feel there is a real link between the present day and the past" - Philip Carroll

"I feel that the tiny information boards in each room could be enlarged and made more attractive plus an audio guide to permit different levels of information to suit individual listeners" - Philip Carroll

"Maybe hand-held information cards in each room?"- Mr & Mrs Peter Rye

"I most liked hearing about the community in the Bronte era"- Lesley O'Brian

"I appreciated the background information and artefacts which connect the famous names with the real people they were"

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

There will be two special open evenings at the Brontë Parsonage Museum on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 23 September when local people are invited to come along and enjoy privileged access to the museum. Wine and canapés will be served, followed by a guided tour of the museum and a special visit to the museum’s Library, not usually accessible to the public, to see some of the treasures of the museum’s collection at close quarters and discus with staff displays for 2010 focusing on Haworth in the Brontës’ time.

The evening events are taking place as part of a Heritage Lottery funded project. The project will focus on renewing the presentation of the historic rooms of the Parsonage with new interpretation for visitors, young and old, and new object cases and displays. These events are an opportunity for local people to see the museum, find out more about its collections and help museum staff with new displays for 2010.

Places are available for 15 or 23 September, 7.30pm. Places will be limited for these special evenings and so booking is required (with early booking recommended). For further details and bookings, contact the museum on 01535 640192/sonia.boocock@bronte.org.uk

These open evenings are a great opportunity for local people to literally see behind the scenes at the museum and to gain an insight into the remarkably rich collection we have, of which only around 10% is displayed. This project aims to make more of the collection accessible, particularly that relating to Haworth’s social history, and to involve local people in the work we’re doing to improve the museum and the way it reflects the history of Haworth as well as the Brontë story.

Andrew McCarthyDirector

Heritage Lottery Fund

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3 billion across the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk.

A special evening event took place at the Brontë Parsonage on Wednesday 9 September, attending by representatives of various local community groups including the Haworth Village Association, Haworth Village Trust, the Worth Valley History Group, local churches, the Brontë Spirit partnership, Haworth People's Art and Haworth Fairtrade.

The event included a guided tour of the museum conducted by Education Officer, Susan Newby and a visit to the museum's Library with Collections Manager, Ann Dinsdale. This included a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at the museum, including some items from the museum's collection relating to Haworth's social history and the Brontës in the context of nineteenth century Haworth.

The museum's plans for new displays in 2010 were discussed, with plenty of suggestions relating to how things might be improved and lots of positive feedback and ideas about the museum's intention to give a greater focus to the social-historical context in which the Brontës lived.

Here are some of the comments made and ideas;

''I really enjoyed looking at items Ann showed us in the Library, especially the journal from the Old Apothecary with various recipes for medical complaints of individual local people's ailments''

''After my visit I felt privileged to have seen such items normally hidden away. It made me feel somehow closer to the Brontë sisters''

''The only improvements would be more space available to show more of the hidden items that presently are not able to be viewed by the general public. Social history exhibition sounds a super idea - Also improved access for wheelchairs from car park'' - Claire Scott

''Better signage. Disabled access from car park'' - Jan Aldridge

''You have not succumbed to the temptation of filling rooms with 'fakes'!''

''Wherever possible make the premises more accessible'' - Chris McCarthy

''Audio/ video/ films of things not able to be shown'' - Sandra McCarthy

''The museum could be improved by displaying more of its collection - perhaps elsewhere'' - John Wood

''I liked the attention to detail and recreating the life of the Brontës as well as the artefacts such as their clothes''

''The museum could be improved by showing other Brontë artefacts, and local history. Making more of Patrick and his work in Haworth'' - Ian Palmer

''... period costumed tour guides, more artefacts on display, more information on the history of the house, social history and background to the Brontë world'' - Pam Howarth

''Expand information about the wider community and the lifestyle conditions the Brontës lived in'' - Rita Verity